NicholasWyman

Speaker Profile

Nicholas Wyman is an apprenticeship expert and CEO of the Institute for Workplace Skills and Innovation– a group of companies that first started operations in 1982 through the WPC Group.

He advises and develops programs for companies such as Nissan, Mercedes Benz, Citibank and Coca Cola on how to recruit, train, retain and “reskill” employees.

A hands-on leader in the field, Wyman is dedicated to closing the gap between education and employment around the world.

In addition to his consulting work, Wyman speaks to HR departments, trade associations, think tanks, high schools and colleges throughout the EU, Singapore, China, Australia, and the U.S. An engaging and animated speaker, Wyman shares front line stories that audiences can relate to and apply directly to their lives. He has spoken at the International Foundation Conference on Youth Philanthropy in Athens, Greece; the Global Lessons in Apprenticeships launch in Washington, D.C.; the Recharging the Youth Conference in New York, N.Y.; and several private corporate events in the U.S. and Australia.

Wyman is a regular media commentator whose articles have appeared in various industry journals. He began his career as an apprentice chef in a London restaurant and holds an MBA. He studied at the Harvard Business School and the Harvard Kennedy School. His book, Job U, is a practical roadmap exploring the myriad of unconventional and affordable pathways to fulfilling and rewarding careers.

Debunking the notion that a traditional college degree is the best or only path to wealth and success, his book is for anyone who wants to learn how to add value and be valued in tomorrow’s economy.

Client Comments for Nicholas Wyman

With over 650 attendees, we were delighted that you focused on the skills gap in Nova Scotia and our region. The amount of Nova Scotia-specific research that you did was noted and appreciated.It was refreshing to hear your "Yes!" stories. Typing your points to our Yes Campaign hit a positive chord with the crowd as we always encourage business leaders to find ways to say yes to reignite Halifax's economy. Your focus on apprenticeships strongly resonated with our membership as well. Throughout the evening, you reminded the audience that success can be found beyond tests and schooling. The five recommendations to close the skills gap were tangible take-aways that businesses can put into action right away. We are focused on retaining our youth and nurturing our skilled workforce, so your message is an important one for the business leaders of Halifax to hear.

Client Comments

Client Comments

With over 650 attendees, we were delighted that you focused on the skills gap in Nova Scotia and our region. The amount of Nova Scotia-specific research that you did was noted and appreciated.It was refreshing to hear your "Yes!" stories. Typing your points to our Yes Campaign hit a positive chord with the crowd as we always encourage business leaders to find ways to say yes to reignite Halifax's economy. Your focus on apprenticeships strongly resonated with our membership as well. Throughout the evening, you reminded the audience that success can be found beyond tests and schooling. The five recommendations to close the skills gap were tangible take-aways that businesses can put into action right away. We are focused on retaining our youth and nurturing our skilled workforce, so your message is an important one for the business leaders of Halifax to hear.Halifax Chamber of Commerce

Your presentation on bridging the skills gap was thought-provoking, engaging and very relevant in the current VET environment. It was refreshing to hear your insights on youth and pathways, in particular choosing the right education at the right time. Thank you for your valuable contribution to the success of the conference. Institute for Workplace Skills and Innovation

Topics

Speaker Topics

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People without jobs, jobs without peopleToday, around 800,000 Australians, many with university degrees, are unemployed, and this figure does not include those who are under-employed or have given up trying to find work. Estimates vary, but experts believe that this figure includes a further 1–1.5 million people. Yet 145,000 positions remain unfilled, and half of all Australian businesses say they have trouble finding people with the practical, technical, job-ready skills they need. Nicholas Wyman refers to it, the problem of “people without jobs and jobs without people.” Drawing on his International work with the organisations, governments, and educational institutions who are pioneering the most cutting-edge solutions to the skills-gap problem, Wyman offers a roadmap for how organisations, communities, and educators can come together to develop the human capital needed to keep our businesses innovative and profitable, our economy healthy and humming, and our nation sustainably competitive in today’s global economy.

Developing The Skills Employers Actually NeedWe have all been sold on the myth that university is for everyone, and have been promised that a traditional degree is a guaranteed ticket to a well-paid, secure professional future. But the truth is, more often than not, a degree fails to deliver on that promise or pack the punch it used to. Employers hiring practices are changing as they transition to the 21st century ‘global’ economy. And this is impacting the way we educate. Wyman discusses the new and emerging opportunities that can only be found outside the traditional university model, in the domain of skills-based education, such as that found through dynamic vocational training courses, technical schools, Technical and Further Education (TAFE) and apprenticeship programs—in the educational pathways ready, willing and able to equip ambitious students with the job-ready skills that companies actually need.

Other possible topics:• Vocational Education: The One Thing That Can Strengthen Australia’s Economic Armour • Building The Case For Skill-Based Education• How Australia’s Skills Gap Offers Opportunity